EMBORIOS

The quiet village of Emborios is situated 24 km northwest from Kalymnos's harbour. Its few inhabitants are engaged in agriculture, stock-breeding and in recent years the tourist trade. Its name, as well as discoveries in nearby areas indicates that it used to be a significant centre of commerce in antiquity. One can swim at the lovely surrounding beaches and visit the settlement of Skalia, the site where the ancient borough of Skaliodan possibly once stood, and the beautiful Kastri (castle) of which only some parts of the walls and the tower still stand.

HORIO

Horio or Hora was the former capital of the island. It is 3 km northwest from Kalymnos and it has a population of about 2,500 inhabitants. It is a beautiful settlement with traditional architecture, and it is engaged in many economic and cultural activities of the island. It is worth visiting the remains of "Pera Kastro" (Faraway Castle) which was built by the Knights of the Order of St John. It contains the historic church of "Panagia Keharitomeni". North of Horio, on the location of Damos, excavations have brought to light an ancient cemetery with sculpted graves, ruins of an ancient settlement, pots, and inscriptions.

KALYMNOS

The island's capital, Kalymnos or Pothia, is on the north side of the island and has 1,200 inhabitants. It was built in 1850 after the former capital, Horio, was abandoned. Finds from excavations indicate that Kalymnos has been settled since antiquity. The town is perched on a hill. On the top of the hill, the famous Castle of Cryssohera (The Castle of Our Lady with the Golden Hands), with the church of the same name, dominates the area. Significant buildings are the town hall, the library, and the magnificent mansion of Katerina Vouvali which houses the archaeological museum. The wharf is embellished with notable statues by Irini and Michalis Kokkinos, the "Mermaid" being one of them. In the interior of the town there are notable churches, such as Christ the Saviour and Christ of Jerusalem, and there are also traditional workshops displaying the sponge-making process. From Kalymnos, one can also visit the Cave of The Seven Virgins or Nymphs, the Kefalas Cave, the ruins of the ancient city on the north-west side and the fine nearby beaches.

MASSOURI

Massouri lies 9 km from Kalymnos, on the west side of the island. This picturesque settlement with its big country houses, offers a spectacular view to its visitors. From here, one can visit the chapel of "Panagia Kastelliou" or "Panagia Galatiani" on the north side of the settlement next to the remains of a Venetian castle. The nearby beaches are the most well-organized on the island.

MYRTIES

The lovely settlement of Myrties is 8 km northwest of the island's capital, opposite the islet of Telendos. Its few country houses are scattered among lush vegetation. Of particular note are the church of Agios Ioannis Melitsahas with the remains of a Doric temple, marble columns and inscriptions.

VATHIS

The attractive settlement of Vathis is situated 10 km northeast of Pothia at the centre of the island's most fertile valley, which abounds in mandarin orange groves and other fruit bearing trees. The valley of the settlement was inhabited in the Neolithic and the Byzantine eras as the remains of an acropolis and an ancient temple from recent excavations indicate. The small settlement of Rina used to be near the settlement's little port until the beginnings of the 15th century when it was destroyed. Today, the small church of Agia Irini stands on the remains of the old church the settlement was named after. From Vathis, also worth visiting are the castle of "Panagia Kyra Psili" (our sublime lady), where the monastery of the same name still stands, the remains of the acropolis at Stimenia, the ruins of an ancient temple on the outskirts of Metohi and the caves on the slopes of the Klastani and Tsigoura hills.